Dr. Robert Ellsworth of Insulite Laboratories' Medical and Advisory Board is a naturopathic medical doctor, who specializes in integrating naturopathic solutions with medical science. He received his Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell University where he was a Research/Surgical Assistant and a Guest Lecturer. Upon graduating, Dr. Ellsworth was a Nutritional Consultant in New York State. His interest in the effects of nutraceuticals on disease resulted in the creation of Five Seasons Corp. which developed nutritional supplements.

Welcome to the 49th edition of Viewpoints, our monthly e-newsletter. Click on In This Issue headlines to read individual articles.

Older women should eat plenty of protein as their bodies find it much harder than those of men to replace the muscle lost as they age, according to a new study.

Differences in the way male and female bodies metabolize food means older women do not use protein as effectively to maintain muscle. So older women need extra protein from such food as eggs and lean meat.

A joint U.S./U.K. team of researchers studied 29 men and women aged 65 to 80 and found that the females did not build up muscle from protein as their male counterparts did.

The male body, it appeared, was able to store protein in the muscle and use this to make the men stronger. The researchers speculated that the inability of the female body to perform the same function as effectively was linked to the hormonal changes of the menopause.

Oestrogen, which declines during menopause, is known to help maintain bone mass and may perform a similar role in the preservation of muscle. Studies of younger men and women have found little difference in the way the body builds up muscle, suggesting the changes seen in this research do not kick in until menopause.

"Nobody has ever discovered any mechanistic differences between men and women in muscle loss before," said Michael Rennie, professor of clinical physiology at the University of Nottingham in England.

From the age of 50 onwards, people lose up to 0.4% of muscle mass every year. This can make them less mobile and place them at a higher risk of a life-threatening fall.

Women are seen as being at particular risk because even by early middle-age they tend to have more fat and less muscle than men of the same age.

"We know that women tend to have less muscle bulk than men as they enter old age so the advice to eat more protein is very sensible indeed," said Jackie Lowdon of the British Dietetic Association.

"Many elderly people subsist on toast and biscuits – food that is easy to make – and there needs to be a much greater focus than at present on improving the diets of those who are already vulnerable," she added.

Researchers may have worked out why obese people are more prone to asthma than those of normal weight.

The link between the two conditions is well-established, though the relationship is little-understood.

Now, however, scientists say they have pinned down a protein which contributes to inflammation of the lungs as well as increasing hunger.

The researchers investigated molecules produced by Th2 cells – specialized cells belonging to the immune system which can inflame the lungs and contribute to the development of asthma. These cells also produce a protein known as PMCH which is known to increase appetite.

Several American and European studies have found a link between obesity and asthma which cannot be explained by weight gain brought on by the inactivity that asthma encourages. In fact, obesity precedes asthma in many cases.

One study of 330,000 patients published earlier this year found that for every normal weight person with asthma, there were 1.5 who were overweight or obese. The latter category effectively ran a 50% greater risk of developing the condition.

However, people with asthma are not always obese, so researchers say further investigation is needed into possible genetic variations of PMCH.

The current economic downturn is making dining out a rare luxury for more and more people.

So if you do decide to treat yourself when money is tight, did you know you can make the most of a restaurant meal and still lose weight?

It's just a question of knowing some healthy ways to navigate the menu.

Think ahead:
determine how much you're willing to eat before looking at the menu. Schedule some extra exercise on days you plan to eat out. Putting in gym time or going for a brisk walk will help offset a little extra eating. You can loosen up a bit on special occasions, as long as you eat carefully most of the time.

Stick to your plan:
decide on some guidelines before you go to a restaurant, like skipping the all-inclusive menu and opting for à la carte selections. Doing so might not be as economical, but you'll probably eat less. And take one piece of bread, then ask your server to remove the breadbasket from the table.

Make special requests:
you're paying good money for that meal and restaurant are eager for your custom, especially at a time of economic downturn. So you're entitled to make special requests or slight modifications. Why not say:

If you want to improve your memory, remember that regular exercise can help.

Research has shown that aerobic workouts can increase levels of a chemical called BDNF, which encourages neurons to form new synapses in the brain as well as strengthening existing ones.

A new study used brain scans to show that people who did aerobic exercise for an hour a day, four days a week over three months, experienced these changes, which can improve memory by between 30 and 40%.

So keep up your exercise regime and all kinds of benefits will just keep coming your way.

"I have been on the PCOS system for almost 2 months now and I am very pleased with my results. I have lost 10 pounds and am keeping it off.

"I have been getting overwhelming response to my weight loss and it feels so good. I went from a size 11 to a size 6 and have not been in that size since high school. I actually like to look at myself in the mirror, again.

"My mother and sister have both seen my results and are going to be ordering some too. They are both eager to start the PCOS system.

Insulite Laboratories is committed to giving you a better understanding of Pre-Diabetes and a common underlying cause of the condition, namely Insulin Resistance-linked excess weight or obesity.

The Insulite Pre-Diabetes System has been scientifically-formulated to help reverse Insulin Resistance, an imbalance of blood glucose and insulin.

Pre-Diabetes is a reversible condition that is diagnosed when blood sugar and insulin levels are higher than normal but not high enough for Type 2 Diabetes. If neglected, however, Pre-Diabetes can lead to Type 2 Diabetes.

This latter disorder can only be managed for the rest of a Diabetic's life in the vast majority of cases and may require daily injections of insulin. Type 2 Diabetes, itself, is a severely increased risk factor for blindness, heart and kidney disease and the need for amputation.

The Insulite Pre-Diabetes System includes a scientifically-designed combination of nutrients which are primarily designed to increase insulin sensitivity, which can, in turn, prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes.

With this system, cells can absorb blood glucose more efficiently for conversion to energy, thereby reducing levels of circulating glucose. A decrease in elevated blood glucose lowers the secretion of insulin.

And when insulin and glucose are in balance, weight loss is facilitated and the symptoms of a related disease like Pre-Diabetes can be reversed.